Clasp for necklaces and the like



M. A. FISCHER. CLASP FOR NECKLACES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MARI I7, I92].

Patented (m. 1922.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON A. FIscHnn, a citizen ofythe United States, and; a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New Yorln-have invented certain new and useful Improvements n Clasps for Necklaces and, the like, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in clasps i'or necklaces and the like.

One of the objectsofithis invention 1s to produce a, clasp, for necklaces and the like which will be more simply, readily and easily operable to release andwill have its operating means more readlly accessible to the user thanis the case in other clasps.

Another object is to produce a clasp having a casing member which may, if desired, be suitably ornamented by the inountlng of stones therein or otherwise and which while bounded by symmetrical line-s may be caused I to ay a on the neck of the wearer.

1 Anotherlobjectof my invention is to produce a clasp device ofthe character described, inwhich the releasing movement is effected by the manipulation of an operating sleeve which projects outwardly concentrically of the longitudlnal axis of the casing beyond the insertlon end thereof, and is pro- 3U vided with a .iinger piece which may, by

a pressure of the fingers exerted between saidiinger piece and the opposite end of the casing, cause a ready release of the in.-

sertion pin or rod by a movement of the sleeve toward the casing, thus provldlng a relatively large surface, to wit, tl'ie'entire length of the clasp for manipulation b; the Stingers oflthe user and producing a facile release,-and alsoenabling- -all partsof the casing to be closed against the admission of dust and dirt, etc. 1

With these and other objects in view, the

invention comprises the combination of members and arrangements of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of 1135' adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, .inwhichzi 'Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a clasp embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the clasp shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line- 3-3 of Fig. 1. looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring now to these drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1 indicates a casing having at one end an axlal hole or character may be ornamented in any suitable manner. 1 i

i The clasp casing 1 has suitably connected thereto at its rear end a stationary chainconnecting member 10 also preferably disposed at the axis of the device and having an eye 10. 1 a

Mounted and enclosed within said casing 1 to have loi'igitudinal movement therein is a carrier 4: which is provided with a bore 5 coaxial with. the hole 2 in the casing and said carrier at is provided with transverse pockets 6 open at opposite sides to permit theriding. of the balls 7 mounted in such pockets on the inclined faces 3 and the inclined facesl will. cause such balls, during the movement of the carrier toward the front end having the opening 2, to move toward and approach the axis of the device and project into the bore 5 of the said carrier so as to grip an object inserted into said axial bore 5, of the carrier by a wedging between the surface of such object and the inclined faces.- The movement of the carrier inthe opposite direction will cause such balls to be moved out of wedging engagement to release the object and permit free withdrawal thereof.

Suitable spring means for normally pressing the carrier 4 toward the front end of the casing having inclined faces is provided, and,

as shown, a compression spring 8 abuts at ially of the casing and through the hole 2 in the front end thereof is an operating sleeve 9 which is operable to move the carrier rearwardly. Said sleeve has a bore 5 forming a continuation of the bore 5 of the carrier through which an insertion member having a chain connection is adapted to be moved. A movable chain connecting member 11 having a shank portion is adapted to be inserted or passed through the axial bores 5 and 5 of the operating sleeve and carrier. Said shank is pointed at one end 11 to permit ready insertion Within the said bore and is provided at its opposite end with a chain link or eye 12'.

It will be seen that when the rod 11 is moved within the casing, it will be engaged by the balls 7 which will by the compression spring 8 be caused to wedge between the inclined faces 3 of the casing and the surfaces ofsaid rod 11, the balls in the carrier riding rearwardly during the insertion movement of the rod 11 to permit entrance thereof but being "adapted to wedge as aforesaid and to prevent the withdrawal of the same unless the carrier be moved rearwardly to a wider portion oi the casing.

In order to permit a more ready releasing of therod and Withdrawal of the same from the clasp-casing 1 so as to separate the ends of the chain, 1 preferably provide between the front or insertion end of the casing having the inclined faces and the chain-connecting eye 12 a finger-inanipulated flange 13 adapted upon movement toward the casing to release the rod 11 and permit separation of the ends of the necklace. This is preterably accomplished by simultaneously squeezing the flange 13 and easing 1 between the lingersto press the flange inwardly toward the casing. This moves the balls to the wider part of the casing, releases the gripping engagement thereof with the movable, ehain-connecting. member and allows the necklace to which the clasp is attached to be removed from the neck oi. the wearer.

Having described my invention 1 claim z l. in combination, a casing having an axialhole at one end and an interior :lare

inclined toward such hole; a carrier mounted clutching elements carried by said carrier and adapted to ride upon said inclined lace and to project into the axial bore of the carrier; a movable ehain-connecting member having a shank and connecting means for a chain, said shank being adapted to be inserted through the carrier bore; another chain-connecting member having connecting means for a chain extending from the opposite end of the casing; a spring for normally forcing said carrier towards the interiorly inclined face and an operating sleeve connected with the carrier and extending lorwardly oi the insertion end of said clasp, whereby a squeezing between said forwardly extending sleeve and the opposite end oi' the casing may be effected by the fingers of the user to release the insertion member.

2.111 combination a casing having an axial hole at one end and an interior .i'ace inclined toward such hole; a carrier mounted to have longitudinal moven'lent in said casing and provided with a bore in axial alignment with the hole in the end 01' the casing; clutching elemems carried by said carrier and adapted to ride upon said inclined face and to project into the axial bore of the carrier; a. movable ehain-connecting member having a shank and connecting means for a chain, said. slum k being adapted to be inserted through the carrier bore; another chain-connecting member having connecting means for a chain extending from the opposite end of the casing; a spring for normally forcing said carrier towards the interiorly inclined face and an operating sleeve connected with the barrier and extending concentrically in a torwa rd direction through the insertion end 01' the casing outside the same and arranged concentrically of the movable chain-commoting member and a linger-mainpulating flange on the outer end oi said sleeve morable between said bore and the chain. eonnertii'ig means oi the connecting member to release said rennet-ting member.

In witness whereol, l have signed mjy name to the 'l'oregoing specification in the presence o'l, two subscribing witnesses.

M lL'lUN A. Fl SCI-HEN. lVitnesses HELEN V. lVHmnLnR, JULUIs M. Low. 

